BOLIVIA | Sheriff John Ingram, along with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Corps, hosted the third annual Sheriff's Prayer Breakfast on May 2. This event coincides with the National Day of Prayer each year. Representatives from multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county and beyond, as well as elected officials, were in attendance. Brunswick County Chaplain Paul Bauer, who has an extensive background in law enforcement and is currently a licensed professional counselor and author, was the guest speaker for the event. Paul served as the day-shift commander of the Emergency Operations Center of the World Trade Center rescue and recovery in the days and months following 9/11. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office Quartet and Honor Guard also participated in the event.The event was held at Southport Baptist Church's Christian Center.

BOLIVIA | The Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter hosts a free community conference titled “Doing What Matters.”From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 31, at Odell Williamson Auditorium, the event will be on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road N.E., Bolivia.Featured speakers will include David Rendall, who presents “Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness” with a focus on how weaknesses can lead to strengths; Jen Johnson, a mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher, who will talk about “The Art of Living Mindfully”; and Shawn Hessee, a motivational speaker discussing “Rolling Through Adversity.” Hessee, who is also a comedian, will share his experience of living with cerebral palsy and being confined to a wheelchair as a result of being born premature to a mother addicted to drugs.The conference includes breakfast snacks, complimentary lunch, and educational and motivational resource materials. In between the inspirational speakers, short video clips will tie the messages together, and encourage attendees to reflect on the messages.Register by May 24 by calling Jason Clamme, community outreach director, at 796-7943, or email jason.clamme@lcfh.org.

WILMINGTON | Saint James Episcopal Church's annual Memorial Day Concert, including patriotic music and readings, will be 12:10 p.m. Friday, May 24, at 25 S. Third St. The event will feature vocal soloists and a brass ensemble from New Hanover High School. The free concert will be followed by a picnic lunch. Cost for lunch is $8, and they must be reserved by calling 763-1628 by Wednesday, May 22.

OCEAN ISLE BEACH | On Saturday, May 25, the Museum of Coastal Carolina will welcome its biggest summer exhibit in its history when Herman the Sperm Whale makes his debut.The massive, fossilized skeleton of what appears to be an adult sperm whale was discovered in 1992 by Dr. Jack Hall of UNCW at the Aurora Fossil Pit. Hall believes that the animal lived during the Miocene period 5 million to 25 million years ago, and that the scars on the rib bones could indicate a possible attack by a Megaladon – an extinct species of shark.Hall will be at the museum May 25 to answer any questions about the whale, including the reason he has named it “Herman.”The Museum of Coastal Carolina, at 21 E. Second St. in Ocean Isle Beach, is open 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 25. Admission is free for museum and dual members. Non-member, all-day admission is $8 for adults (13-61), $7 for seniors (62 and older), $6 for children (3-12), and free for ages 2 and younger. For more information, call 579-1016 or visit www.museumplanetarium.org.

CALABASH | The annual Plants 'n' Gifts Sale is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 24-25 at Brunswick Plantation. The Brunswick Bloomers Garden Club has hundreds of locally grown plants and a variety of handmade items. The Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter will receive all proceeds from the sale.

BOLIVIA | Organizers and sponsors need volunteers for the 10th annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College.The free event is a cultural and arts program that celebrates diversity in Brunswick County. The festival is packed with performing artists, children's activities, cultural displays and ethnic food sampling. Sponsors are needed, and local vendors are encouraged to send in applications early. To volunteer, sponsor or become a vendor at the festival, contact interculturalfestival@hotmail.com or 842-6566. For more information, visit www.bcifestival.org.

BOLVIA | A pesticide disposal collection day is scheduled for Brunswick County 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, in the parking lot behind the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office at 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, Bolivia. There is no charge.Brunswick County Extension Agent Sam Marshall said any pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc., in original containers and clearly labeled will be accepted. Products with unknown identities, that are unlabeled, or not in pesticide containers, and household hazardous materials, including paint, will not be accepted.